Equipping People To Make Sense Of What They Are Told
Pancreas - A large gland organ that is about six inches long and shaped like a leaf.
The wide end is called the head.
The middle is called the body.
The thin end is called the tail.
It is both an endocrine gland and an exocrine gland.
It produces digestive enzymes in cells known as acini and within the acinar tissues
are cell clusters known as ‘islets of Langerhans’ which produce hormones.
As an endocrine gland it produces several important pancreatic hormones such as:
Insulin.
Glucagon.
Somatostatin.
As an exocrine gland it secretes pancreatic juice containing digestive enzymes that
pass to the small intestine. These enzymes help in the further breakdown in the chyme
of:
If the pancreas is completely removed, pancreatic enzyme supplements and insulin
will have to be administered and diabetes will occur.
If the pancreas is partially removed enough insulin may be produced, however blood
sugar levels will have to be monitored to ensure that diabetes does not or is not
developing.
